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How To Remove Watermark In Word [2024 Guide]
Find out how to get rid of watermarks for good
6 min. read
Updated onFebruary 8, 2024
updated onFebruary 8, 2024
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Key notes
Watermarkshelp users ofMicrosoft Wordmake certain attributes in the document super clear to readers.
For example, you can use it to let colleagues know that your Word document is a draft. Or even confidential to mention but a few.
But at some point, you no longer need thewatermarkand desire to delete it only to encounter a resolutewatermarkthat won’t budge despite following the correct procedure.
And so you’re left feeling helpless that you can’t removewatermarkedorhighlights in Word.
Now, this article is for you if you have been facing this problem. Let’s go directly to seeing how you can remove a stubbornwatermark.
How can I remove the watermark from Word documents?
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Open the document with the watermark which you want to remove.
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Navigate to theDesigntab (click thePage Layouttab For Word 2010 andWord 2007).
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SelectWatermarkfrom the list of available options.
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Click onRemoveWatermark.
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Your document should no longer display thewatermark.
If you are wondering how to remove watermark in Word in order to have a clean document, we have the solution for you. You can do this from the app’s built-in settings in just a few steps.
This is the easy traditional method that should do the trick for most users. Before you try out other methods, you should see if this one works.
Sometimes, theWatermarkis unshaken by these steps so you can attempt some alternative solutions.
What to do if I can’t remove the Watermark in Word?
1. Use The Footer Section
A proven fix involves working from the footer section.
2. Save The Document As in The XML Format
XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is another markup language pretty similar to HTML. Importantly, storing a Word document in XML converts it to plain text.
And so you can try to save the document as anXML fileif after executing the above solutions thewatermarkwon’t still delete.
Next, you will need to edit the file and in Notepad.
3. Work From The Header Section
In some of the recent versions ofWordincluding Office 365,Word2016, andWord2019,watermarksare anchored in the header section. This means that you have to access the header area to erase awatermark.
Repeat this process if yourWorddocument consists of multiple unlinked sections to remove all instances ofWatermarksin such files.
Here are alternative steps to help remove resilientwatermarksfrom headerwatermarks.
You may be forced to scroll through the entire document to reach the Header of each Watermarked Section and delete every instance one by one especially for long documents.
4. Use the 4-way arrow
The 4-way arrow replaces the Select Object arrow and is also helpful in nearly all the latest Word releases including Word online.
Here is How:
ClickReviewthenNext. Now chooseAcceptorReject.
You can as well use the backspace in place of the delete button.
5. Remove The Header/Footer
Awatermarkwon’t go occasionally if yourWord documentbecomes corrupted as a result of saving the recovered copy afresh perhaps after an abrupt Word crash.
This is because of issues that emanate from the subsequent encoding.
Note that method works like a charm for users ofMS Word2007 and Word 2010.
This should solve the issue. You can again retry by removing the footer if it doesn’t.
You may now rebuild the header/footer if necessary and it should function without thewatermarkproblem recurring-provided you don’t copy the original Header/footer from thecorrupted filesversions of your document.
Can’t Remove Watermark Word Even After All This?
A Microsoft Word document may show a red mark (X) when you attempt to clear awatermarkso it totally refuses to do away with thewatermark.
This is quite common for documents where the author used a customWatermark. Well, the answer to this problem is not very different from the steps of deleting the usualwatermarks.
Can I Remove The Watermark In Word on The First Page Only?
You may want to now and then remove awatermarkon only the first page of your document.
Now, this is possible but there is a rider: You (or the owner of the document) must have enabled the “Different first-page” option for the headers and footers after adding thewatermark.
If you areunable to edit Word document, check this guide linked here.
In a majority of cases, thewatermarkwill be hidden from the First Page Header completely when this choice is activated.
All the same, you can still easily unpublish it by applying the previously explained steps if for some reason it still shows up.
More about the topics:Microsoft Word,Microsoft Word issues
Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer.
She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies – AI and DNA computing in particular.
Prior to joining the WindowsReport team, she worked in the corporate world for a number of years.
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Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina is a Windows fan since forever, especially interested in AI, emerging technologies, privacy, and security.
